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Leopard Lord
Romantic fantasy at its best--from an exciting new voice in the genre! The successor to the barony of Leopard's Gard has made a wicked deal with the dark god, and now he must choose between the lives of his countrymen--and the woman he loves.
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 1999
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
February 12, 2008
I'm inserting posts from my livejournal in this review, because I believe this to be the only way to properly convey the experience of reading this book, for me:
***
Oh man, you guys! YOU GUYS! I'm reading Leopard Lord and it's SO BAD. I feel like a dog who has just found a half decayed and fetid fish. I just want to ROLL IN IT.
Further updates as events warrant.
ETA: (from comments)
thete1: You must share!
Betty: OH MAN. See, his dad's all evil, and stuff, but he's totally gonna be super-good once his dad's dead. And he assures the slave-girl that she can trust him, because he'd totally never take advantage of her, but she tells him that she's been inspected last night, and if she's not devirginized, she's gonna be in trouble! SO AGAINST HIS BETTER IMPULSES he helps her out with that problem WITH HIS PENIS.
thete1: *spuh* That is *special*. OMG. You can *hear* the writer's id being dragged into the cold, unforgiving light. You can hear the *screaming* as it fights to stay warm and safe, but no! Not this id. This id must be *exposed*.
Betty: Oh, man, Te. It's so awesome. Also, there's all this stuff where he crawls into bed with his childhood (slave) friend, and his (de-virginized) slave-girl, and sometimes, the two slaves are making out and he's all "I just want you to know, slave-friends, that I would never interfere with your desires!" and I'm all DUDE YOU ARE BEING INVITED TO A THREESOME PAY ATTENTION but no.
***
I must wrap up by reporting that our hero is sold against his will into the service of an evil god, and bargains the safety of his people for the life of a wife he has not yet met. When he meets her, he rapidly romances her so he may be betray her, but then is required to keep her still virgin for her impending sacrifice, which he does, successfully, for several months after their marriage. She, we learn, can see auras: this useful skill is referenced precisely once after we learn of it. Also present: rape and attempted rape, the freeing of slaves because he's just that moral, reincarnation and soul-bonds tacked on like a wedding favour, the least surprising revelation of a secret identity in the history of everything, and a program to cross-breed humans with some sort of horrible gremlin.
***
Oh man, you guys! YOU GUYS! I'm reading Leopard Lord and it's SO BAD. I feel like a dog who has just found a half decayed and fetid fish. I just want to ROLL IN IT.
Further updates as events warrant.
ETA: (from comments)
thete1: You must share!
Betty: OH MAN. See, his dad's all evil, and stuff, but he's totally gonna be super-good once his dad's dead. And he assures the slave-girl that she can trust him, because he'd totally never take advantage of her, but she tells him that she's been inspected last night, and if she's not devirginized, she's gonna be in trouble! SO AGAINST HIS BETTER IMPULSES he helps her out with that problem WITH HIS PENIS.
thete1: *spuh* That is *special*. OMG. You can *hear* the writer's id being dragged into the cold, unforgiving light. You can hear the *screaming* as it fights to stay warm and safe, but no! Not this id. This id must be *exposed*.
Betty: Oh, man, Te. It's so awesome. Also, there's all this stuff where he crawls into bed with his childhood (slave) friend, and his (de-virginized) slave-girl, and sometimes, the two slaves are making out and he's all "I just want you to know, slave-friends, that I would never interfere with your desires!" and I'm all DUDE YOU ARE BEING INVITED TO A THREESOME PAY ATTENTION but no.
***
I must wrap up by reporting that our hero is sold against his will into the service of an evil god, and bargains the safety of his people for the life of a wife he has not yet met. When he meets her, he rapidly romances her so he may be betray her, but then is required to keep her still virgin for her impending sacrifice, which he does, successfully, for several months after their marriage. She, we learn, can see auras: this useful skill is referenced precisely once after we learn of it. Also present: rape and attempted rape, the freeing of slaves because he's just that moral, reincarnation and soul-bonds tacked on like a wedding favour, the least surprising revelation of a secret identity in the history of everything, and a program to cross-breed humans with some sort of horrible gremlin.
August 23, 2008
Story of Lord Varian who can change into a leopard, but who is controlled by an evil god because his father forced him to swear an oath of fealty as a young boy. He marries a travelling merchant's daughter (Cathlin), at the command of his god. Cathlin has no idea of her new husband's secrets, and the bargain he made to sacrifice his wife to his god to be free from the evil god's power. I would recommend this as a quick light read. A little formulaic, probably more enjoyable to someone who doesn't read a lot of fantasy. Very easy, fast reading though.
May 24, 2011
*** NOTE MY REVIEWS OFTEN CONTAIN SPOILERS ***
When his soul is given up to the Dark God by his evil father and he is forced to commit atrocities against the people he's sworn to protect Varian strike a deal with the god he loathes, his people's freedom from his tyranny in exchange for the life of his virgin bride - a woman he barely knows who the Dark One sees as a threat.
What he didn't count on was falling in love with the trader girl he's married and being unable to imagine life without her in it. When he tries to back out of his deal with the Dark God he is again faced with a difficult choice when both he and the god learn that the young boy he swore fealty to in his youth is now the King - a man he must protect with his life. The God, with higher aspirations than just a simple barony is more than willing to take the King instead of his bride, but then the entire country will be ruled by his evil and Varian can't have that either. So loathing himself with every step he takes his bride to her fate.
What he doesn't know is his bride has been schooled by the Goddess Byela and well prepared to face the evil before her or to die protecting the man and the people she's come to love. Together the two face an evil god and save a nation in this oddly twisted story of love and duty.
The story is filled with subplots galore including relationships with slaves and giving those slaves their freedom. What I didn't understand is that the author was willing to bring us into an odd sexual scene where a slave girl is first with Varian then with his best friend Corven and finally marries a man named Garek who Varian later kills under the control of the dark god while in leopard form - the final straw which pushes him to make the bargain with the Dark God, but ends the book before allowing the reader to share in the loving consummation of the marriage between Cathlin and Varian. Obviously she doesn't shy away from sex, but I feel she invites the reader into the wrong sex scenes and excludes us from the right ones.
Overall it's a thrilling read that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. Definitely worth reading.
When his soul is given up to the Dark God by his evil father and he is forced to commit atrocities against the people he's sworn to protect Varian strike a deal with the god he loathes, his people's freedom from his tyranny in exchange for the life of his virgin bride - a woman he barely knows who the Dark One sees as a threat.
What he didn't count on was falling in love with the trader girl he's married and being unable to imagine life without her in it. When he tries to back out of his deal with the Dark God he is again faced with a difficult choice when both he and the god learn that the young boy he swore fealty to in his youth is now the King - a man he must protect with his life. The God, with higher aspirations than just a simple barony is more than willing to take the King instead of his bride, but then the entire country will be ruled by his evil and Varian can't have that either. So loathing himself with every step he takes his bride to her fate.
What he doesn't know is his bride has been schooled by the Goddess Byela and well prepared to face the evil before her or to die protecting the man and the people she's come to love. Together the two face an evil god and save a nation in this oddly twisted story of love and duty.
The story is filled with subplots galore including relationships with slaves and giving those slaves their freedom. What I didn't understand is that the author was willing to bring us into an odd sexual scene where a slave girl is first with Varian then with his best friend Corven and finally marries a man named Garek who Varian later kills under the control of the dark god while in leopard form - the final straw which pushes him to make the bargain with the Dark God, but ends the book before allowing the reader to share in the loving consummation of the marriage between Cathlin and Varian. Obviously she doesn't shy away from sex, but I feel she invites the reader into the wrong sex scenes and excludes us from the right ones.
Overall it's a thrilling read that keeps you turning the pages until the very end. Definitely worth reading.
September 15, 2018
Have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
I picked it up thinking it'd be trashy but it was actually kind of sweet. Very subtle but effective worldbuilding. Kinda wished it was longer or part of a series but what can you do?
I picked it up thinking it'd be trashy but it was actually kind of sweet. Very subtle but effective worldbuilding. Kinda wished it was longer or part of a series but what can you do?
August 21, 2023
CW: Sexual Assault, Torture, Death, and Murder.
This fantasy romance is full of angst and sorrow and vengeance, however I felt like this work could have been more expansive. The ending left me wanting more information.
This fantasy romance is full of angst and sorrow and vengeance, however I felt like this work could have been more expansive. The ending left me wanting more information.
January 29, 2024
This was a fun and light read. It’s not Top-Tier but the writing is good and the story is easy to follow. Overall a very enjoyable read and a fun world to immerse yourself in.
October 9, 2015
This book is about Varian, who is a baron, a were-leopard (snow leopard to be exact), and bound to the dark god. He makes a deal with the god to give him his wife - as a virgin - so he can free his people from the god's cruelty.
I think Varian is the reason why I love this book so much. He's such a great person. His father is completely awful, but Varian inherited his mother's kindness. He really cares about his people and does all he can to make them better. He despises slavery and keeps his word to his best friend, his body slave Corven, about freeing him within an hour of becoming baron. Varian does the best he can for his people to make the barony prosperous, to fairly judge crimes, to make his people as safe as possible. After an incident caused by the dark lord which killed his friend's new husband Varian snaps and makes the deal to give his future wife to the dark lord to free his people. But true to form, Varian begins to care too deeply for his wife, Cathlin, and struggles to come to terms with sacrificing her for the good of his people. The book ends when Varian finally comes to terms with everything he's done and decides to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his people and Cathlin both.
The one part of the book that didn't sit quite right with me was the missing girls from the village. When they came back into the story the seemed totally unaffected by what had happened to them. Which was completely traumatizing, there should have been PTSD like whoa. Either the women of Leopard Gard are made of some serious stuff, or what happened to them is pretty common in the barony. Which we were led to believe Varian has zero tolerance for...Although I suppose they all grew up with Varian's father as baron, so it was pretty standard for him. Sorry about the vague I'm trying to not give spoilers and their fate was pretty shocking.
I'm a huge fan of this book, it's one of my all-time favorites and it really stands up to a reread (or several rereads)
review at http://testybadger.blogspot.com/2015/...
I think Varian is the reason why I love this book so much. He's such a great person. His father is completely awful, but Varian inherited his mother's kindness. He really cares about his people and does all he can to make them better. He despises slavery and keeps his word to his best friend, his body slave Corven, about freeing him within an hour of becoming baron. Varian does the best he can for his people to make the barony prosperous, to fairly judge crimes, to make his people as safe as possible. After an incident caused by the dark lord which killed his friend's new husband Varian snaps and makes the deal to give his future wife to the dark lord to free his people. But true to form, Varian begins to care too deeply for his wife, Cathlin, and struggles to come to terms with sacrificing her for the good of his people. The book ends when Varian finally comes to terms with everything he's done and decides to make the ultimate sacrifice to save his people and Cathlin both.
The one part of the book that didn't sit quite right with me was the missing girls from the village. When they came back into the story the seemed totally unaffected by what had happened to them. Which was completely traumatizing, there should have been PTSD like whoa. Either the women of Leopard Gard are made of some serious stuff, or what happened to them is pretty common in the barony. Which we were led to believe Varian has zero tolerance for...Although I suppose they all grew up with Varian's father as baron, so it was pretty standard for him. Sorry about the vague I'm trying to not give spoilers and their fate was pretty shocking.
I'm a huge fan of this book, it's one of my all-time favorites and it really stands up to a reread (or several rereads)
review at http://testybadger.blogspot.com/2015/...
September 24, 2010
Found this on my shelf while moving books around and didn't remember it. Must have originally read it a long, long time ago... sadly, it didn't age well. Heavy writing, cliche characters and very predictable plot.
November 16, 2010
I was in high school when I read this book, and I absolutely loved it. One of the few times I lost sleep in order to finish a book!
August 30, 2011
Not bad, but the ending was rushed (it seemed way too easy) and the plot wasn't very intricate.
April 1, 2013
One of those memorable books from long ago. I remember reading this book a long time ago in like middle school and loving it. I will be definitely re-reading this book again soon.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews